perfect moment monday

First, on this Memorial day we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and we pray for the brave men and women who are currently fighting. We also pray for all the families of our brave solders who have lost their loved ones or are waiting for their safe return.

Lori says Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between.

Yesterday was my town's Memorial day parade. I live on the corner of one of the main streets and the parade marches right past the front of my house and around the corner. I have fond memories of watching the Memorial day parade that passed in front of my Grandparents old house. I always remember how excited I was to see all the police officers and firefighters especially since my Poppy was police chief for many years. The marching bands and bagpipers were and still are my favorite part. Listening to them gives me goose bumps every time. The first year we lived here when I found out the parade route I immediately thought of when I was a kid and I couldn't wait for the day our own kids could sit in our front yard and enjoy the parade like I did.

Anyway, I was sitting out front waiting for the parade to start and watching all my neighbors and their excited kids getting ready to watch. I started to get a little sad since this would be another year not experiencing it myself. There were families that walked or drove in from different parts of town walking down the street looking for the perfect place to watch from.

While I was sitting there a few women and their young children were trying to find a good spot. I overheard them say something about it being hot because it was, so I spoke up and asked them if they would like to sit in the grass under my tree (I have the only trees in the front yard on the block). They asked me if I was sure and I didn't mind. Of course I didn't mind, so they all sat under the tree with the kids excitedly bouncing around.

The kids were young. The little girl was at the youngest around 3 and her 2 older boys were between 5-7. They were so cute! As the parade started they OOO'd and AHH'd at the cars and trucks, waived at the police officers and firefighters and danced to the marching bands and bagpipers. The younger little boy would run up to me every once in a while and tell me to look at something going by or tell me about school. When the town athletic league passed by with all the kid's soccer, baseball and basketball teams they threw candy to the people watching the parade. It was so nice seeing little kids all excited picking up the candy. The same little boy ran up to me with a handful of candy excitedly showing me how much he got. What he did next almost brought me to tears. He picked a piece, held it up and asked "Would you like some? It's good!" I took the candy and said thank you. He smiled and seemed pretty pleased with himself that he shared.

You would think watching the little kids enjoy the parade would upset me, however amazingly it put me in the best mood. I was smiling and happy the rest of the day and it has overflowed into today.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful long weekend full of perfect moments.